Hostage to the nuclear race?

Sir: It is unfortunate that the US is patronising India, transferring nuclear technology to it contrary to its own declared policy, and ignoring the similar needs of other countries. India’s recent 5,000 km-range Agni-V nuclear warhead carrying missile’s test was not only endorsed by Washington but got kudos in the name of competing with China in the region. Although there has been no worldwide objection to it, but inside India there is strong resistance against it. As renowned Indian journalists such as Kuldip Nayar, Jawed Naqvi, Praful Bidwai and Aijaz Zaka Syed have, in their recently published articles, pointed out, New Delhi is facing severe resistance. India’s southern part is witnessing severe anti-government protests under the People’s Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) against the building of nuclear power plants like the Kudankulam Atomic Power Project (KK-NPP) in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu state. Local people fear Japan’s Fukushima-like disaster, which may take place in the one million population area.

Thousands of fisherfolk, farmers and other residents surrounded the KK-NPP, and organised massive demonstrations in Chettikulam, Idinthakarai and Kanyakumari. Over 300 senior citizens kept a daylong fast and wrote a letter to the Japanese prime minister requesting him not to open nuclear cooperation negotiations with India. The Indian government is accusing the movement of being supported by foreign organisations and is also trying to whip up the communal divide, playing the communal card by publicly stating that it is the Christians who are opposing the nuclear plant, while the Hindus are suffering from power cuts.

The government has increased power cuts in the surrounding area, to build up resentment among the general population against the struggle and protest. According to S P Udayakumar, a member of the movement, “The nuclear plant is unsafe and the safety analysis report and the site evaluation study have not been made public.” Protesters said that even advanced countries like Germany have decided to shut down all of its 17 nuclear reactors through which the country gets 23 percent of its energy.

India must learn to listen to the voice of its people and adhere to human rights practices. It has long been victimising people in Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and other parts of India. Other nations should take stock of the situation and must stop transfer of nuclear technology to India until it improves its nuclear safety measures.

Fukushima-like disasters, if they happen in neighbouring India, would certainly affect Pakistan. Thankfully, Pakistan does not have a single such issue so far despite fears created by terrorists and hostile foreign media. However, the government should take safety measures in order to avoid such mishaps within the country.